Holistic Dentistry NJ

Many patients have heard the term “ mercury toxicity ” associated with fillings but still have many questions about it: what is it, am I affected by it, and what can be done to remediate it? What Are the Symptoms of Mercury Toxicity? Mercury, the only metallic element that is a liquid under standard temperature and pressure conditions, is widely utilized in many industries and processes. Mercury toxicity symptoms are many; mercury poisoning takes a heavy toll on the body, affecting the neurological and central nervous systems, as well as the gastrointestinal, immune, neuromuscular, and cardiovascular systems. Major organs, such as the brain, liver, and kidneys, also suffer as a result of mercury toxicity. A wide variety of symptoms is attributed to toxicity resulting from mercury amalgam. This list includes but is not limited to: --Headache, fatigue, loss of concentration, irritability, depression, insomnia, and dizziness --Diverticulitis, stomach cramps, bloating, loss of app...

Childhood, when permanent (“adult”) teeth began to grow, is the best time to teach youngsters good oral hygiene habits and how to make wise nutritional choices. By learning how to prevent compromising the enamel, the hard substance that covers teeth, children can minimize and perhaps prevent the dental problems that plague many adults. To this day, there is disagreement in the dental community about the precise cause of tooth decay. The most widely accepted theory is that decay is a local phenomenon (contained to the area of the mouth), caused when mouth bacteria consume sugar and excrete acid, which begins to decay enamel. Pediatric tooth decay is on the rise. Some research suggests that systemic causes—including radiation exposure, hormonal abnormalities, and foreign proteins in food—are to blame. Hypomineralization, caused mainly by a diet inadequate in minerals, increases a child’s susceptibility to decay. The systemic theory of decay suggests that other factors become relev...

CAN A FAILED ROOT CANAL HAVE A SYSTEMIC EFFECT ON THE BODY? When we consider that a tooth is an open biological system which communicates with the body, whether alive or dead following a root canal, the question of systemic effects on the body becomes an important issue. Root canal infections also have close access to blood circulation and systemic dissemination (Tronstad, 1992). One study, performed during root canal therapy, isolated bacteria from the blood stream of patients (Debihan, 1995). That leaves us with a basic question which has yet to be thoroughly investigated. A root canal-treated (RCT) or root-filled tooth is one in which the dental nerve, commonly called the pulp, is intentionally removed and is filled with an inert material called gutta percha. Once an RCT is performed, the tooth must be restored with a post and a crown. These will strengthen the tooth and prevent a crack or fracture from developing after treatment. A good analogy is a tree branch. When it’s al...

When the element mercury accumulates to a high concentration in the body, it can lead to a variety of acute and chronic medical problems, including organ damage and compromise of major bodily systems. Because of the widespread usage of mercury in dental amalgam materials, many people are susceptible to mercury toxicity and its associated health issues. Dentists who focus on safe amalgam removal must receive specialized training in the practice; they also follow government guidelines for containment of mercury vapor during the procedure and disposal of mercury-containing materials afterward. The symptoms of mercury toxicity are manifold; poisoning from the element can affect every part of the body, including the neurological, central nervous, gastrointestinal, immune, neuromuscular, and cardiovascular systems, as well as major organs, such as the brain, liver, and kidneys. Symptoms are diverse, ranging from headache and fatigue to gastrointestinal disorders and from muscle and bone...